Question 1

What type of understanding is illustrated by Kanzi (the famous bonobo)and his ability to distinguish between "Pour the Coke in the lemonade" and "Pour the lemonade in the Coke"

Accepted Answer

Kanzi's ability to distinguish between the two sentences requires an understanding of both syntax (the order of the words in the sentences) and semantics (the meaning of the words in the sentences).

Question 2

What is metalinguistic awareness

Accepted Answer

Metalinguistic awareness refers to the ability to reflect on the use of language, including its rules, patterns, and nuances. It involves analyzing and understanding the structure, meaning, and function of language, and being able to consider language in a more abstract and reflective way rather than simply using it to communicate.

Question 3

A child says "wented" as the past tense of the verb "to go." What type of common error is this

Accepted Answer

The error of using "wented" instead of "went" is an example of overregularization, which is a common language error made by children learning grammar rules. They apply regular grammatical patterns to irregular verbs, resulting in mistakes like "wented" instead of "went."

Question 4

Pinker and Bloom suggest that language is an evolutionary adaptation.What does language allow us to do,in their theory

Accepted Answer

According to Pinker and Bloom, language allows us to acquire information about the world second-hand, through communication with others. This allows us to benefit from the knowledge and experiences of others, which is a key advantage of language as an evolutionary adaptation. While language may also help us avoid heuristic fallacies or engage in more efficient introspection, these are not the primary benefits discussed by Pinker and Bloom. The idea that language helps us use trial-and-error learning more effectively is not mentioned in the passage.

Question 5

Which statement best describes bilingualism

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that bilinguals score higher than monolinguals in metalinguistic awareness, which refers to the ability to analyze and reflect on language. This is likely due to the fact that bilinguals have experience with more than one language and therefore, have a greater awareness of how language works.

Question 6

What have we learned from studies in which researchers have attempted to teach chimpanzees and bonobos to use nonverbal language (i.e.,sign language or communication boards)

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that chimpanzees and bonobos can learn a significant number of signs or symbols and use them in contextually appropriate ways, indicating a capacity for understanding and using elements of language.

Question 7

Why do children learn a language,according to Skinner

Accepted Answer

Skinner believed that children learn language through imitation of others and reinforcement from parents and other caretakers. This perspective is known as behaviorist theory. Skinner believed that children learn to associate certain sounds and behaviors with specific meanings through the reinforcement and shaping of behavior.

Question 8

Why does a child's pronunciation improve over time,according to learning theory

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does a child's pronunciation improve over...

Question 9

According to Pinker and Bloom,how many generations would it have taken for Neanderthals to become extinct if the acquisition of language produced a 1 percent difference in mortality rates among overlapping Neanderthal and human populations

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Pinker and Bloom,how many generations...

Question 10

When a child starts using overregularizations,what do these errors reflect

Accepted Answer

Overregularizations reflect a child's developing knowledge of grammar rules and their attempts to apply those rules consistently, even when they do not fit the particular context. It is a normal stage of language development, and not necessarily a sign of delayed development.

Question 11

What is a criticism of the behaviourist model of language acquisition

Accepted Answer

The behaviorist model suggests that language is learned through imitation and reinforcement, but critics argue that it is unreasonable to expect children to learn an infinite number of sentences this way, as they can generate novel sentences they have never heard before.

Question 12

Andi says "sawed" instead of "seen" or "saw." What type of common error is this

Accepted Answer

Andi's error of using "sawed" instead of "seen" or "saw" is an example of overregularization. Overregularization occurs when a child applies a grammatical rule too broadly and incorrectly, resulting in the application of an incorrect form of a word.

Question 13

In some early studies,researchers attempted to teach chimpanzees to speak.What conclusions led to these studies being discontinued

Accepted Answer

Researchers found that despite extensive training, chimpanzees were unable to produce the complex range of sounds needed for human speech. This led to the conclusion that chimpanzees lack the necessary vocal equipment for human-like speech production.

Question 14

According to Pinker and Bloom,if the acquisition of language was a trait variation that produced just 1 percent more offspring per generation,how long would it take to see an increase in prevalence from 0.1 percent to 99.9 percent

Accepted Answer

According to Pinker and Bloom's calculation, if the acquisition of language was a trait variation that produced just 1 percent more offspring per generation, it would take around 4000 generations (or years) to see an increase in prevalence from 0.1 percent to 99.9 percent. This is because each generation would have only a slight increase in the number of individuals with the trait, and it would take time for this increase to compound and become dominant in the population. Therefore, the correct answer is C, 4000 generations.

Question 15

Four-year-old Nina says,"I runned all the way home." What does this likely indicate

Accepted Answer

Nina is overregularizing a grammatical rule, where she applies the regular "-ed" ending to an irregular verb (run) instead of using the correct past tense form (ran). This is a common developmental stage in language acquisition.

Question 16

Dr.Peppard is studying cognitive flexibility and selective attention in bilingual and monolingual adults.What pattern is Dr.Peppard most likely to see in the test scores of bilingual participants,based on the evidence from previous research studies

Accepted Answer

Previous research studies have shown that bilingual individuals tend to perform better in cognitive flexibility and selective attention tasks compared to monolingual individuals. This is because bilingualism requires constant switching between two languages and inhibition of one language while using the other, which strengthens cognitive control abilities. Therefore, it is most likely that Dr.Peppard will find bilingual participants to score higher in both cognitive flexibility and selective attention.

Question 17

Seven-year-old Travis heard a joke in school and asks you,"How could you find a lost dog in the woods " When you are stumped,he tells you,"You stand near a tree and listen for the bark." What is Travis developing,based on this play on words

Accepted Answer

Metalinguistic awareness refers to the ability to think about and manipulate language consciously. In this case, Travis is playing with words and recognizing the double meaning of "bark." This demonstrates his ability to separate language from its meaning and think about it in a more abstract way. Therefore, Travis is developing metalinguistic awareness.

Question 18

If Annette is learning two languages,what will be the impact of bilingualism on the development of her vocabulary

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that bilingual children may have smaller vocabularies in each language compared to monolingual children in their respective languages. However, when the vocabularies from both languages are combined, the total size is similar to or can even exceed that of monolingual children.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the evolutionary advantages that language may have provided

Accepted Answer

While language may have contributed to more efficient hunting and gathering and avoidance of predators, there is no evidence to suggest that it provides more rapid classical conditioning.

Question 20

Dr.Prasad believes that experience with reinforcement determines which specific aspects of language an individual will eventually master.Who would be most likely to agree with Dr.Prasad

Accepted Answer

F. Skinner is known for his behaviorist theory which emphasizes the importance of reinforcement in language acquisition. He believed that language development is a product of operant conditioning, where individuals are more likely to produce linguistic behaviors that are reinforced or rewarded, and less likely to produce behaviors that are not reinforced or punished. Therefore, Skinner would likely agree with Dr. Prasad's belief that experience with reinforcement is crucial in determining language mastery.

Quiz 8: A: Language and Thought

What type of understanding is illustrated by Kanzi (the famous bonobo) and his ability to distinguish between "Pour the Coke in the lemonade" and "Pour the lemonade in the Coke"